Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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Incident Code

USYEM067-B

Incident date

April 23, 2012

Location

لودر, Lawdar, Abyan, Yemen

Geolocation

13.88149, 45.868922 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On 23rd April 2012, at 10:30 am, the Yemen army and/or US military allegedly conducted a strike in Loder, Abyan province killing between four to 17 suspected AQAP militants, with some sources attributing the militant deaths to artillery bombardment. There are currently no known reports of civilian harm.

Bikyamasr reported that the strike was carried out by Yemeni forces and some sources speaking to the media house said four militants were killed while others claimed that “at least 17 militants were killed”. Local sources corroborated AFP reporting that a Yemeni fighter plane bombed a vehicle, killing four. Reuters added that two suspected Al Qaeda hideouts were also struck in Loder and that residents saw militants carrying their dead comrades toward the village of Umm Ayn for burial.

Nashwan News identified the strike as being carried out at 10:30 in the morning on “Lasof” mountain, outside the city, killing “dozens” of militants. @AlArab_Qatar tweeted that three Somalis were among the militants killed, attributing their deaths to artillery bombardment.

Many sources identified Yemeni air forces as the perpetrator of the strike. However, one source reported that the Yemen Air Force did not having the capability to carry out this kind of precision strike. Other reports confirmed this saying that the air force “lacks the technical ability to carry out precision strikes on moving vehicles.”

The incident occured at 10:30:00 local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attackers
    US Forces, Yemeni Air Force
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    4–17

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention that a vehicle was targeted near the town of Lawdar (لودر) in the governorate Abyan (أبين‎). The generic coordinates for the town of Lawdar (لودر) are: 13.88149, 45.868922. Due to limited information and satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Yemeni Air Force Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Yemeni Air Force
  • Yemeni Air Force position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attackers
    US Forces, Yemeni Air Force
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    4–17

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISSY011

Incident date

May 1, 2020

Location

معسكر الحسن بن الهيثم للتدريب الجامعي, Al Hassan Bin Al Haitham Military Training Camp, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.685734, 36.734848 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 10 civilians were wounded and taken to hospitals in Homs, Syria after being hit by shrapnel from an explosion, allegedly as a result either of Israeli airstrikes or an accidental explosion, on an ammunition warehouse of Hezbollah within the camp of Hassan Bin Al Haitham on the road connecting Homs to Palmyra, Homs governorate, on May 1st, 2020.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said they received information that the explosion “was caused by a new Israeli missile strike, which targeted a warehouse of ammunition and missiles belonging to the Lebanese Hezbollah in the camp of Hassan bin Al-Haytham located on the road of Homs – Palmyra.” The sources of the Syrian Observatory confirmed that the camp “is for university training, but the Lebanese Hezbollah took it as headquarters a few years ago.”

However, there were different stories about the explosions that were heard in Homs. The Syrian regime said the explosion was a result of human error while moving ammunition there, which had then led to the explosion and the injury of a number of civilians who were passing at that time.

Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) quoted a regime military source as saying “At 9:25 am on Friday, May 1st, 2020, successive explosions were heard at a military position in the city of Homs, and investigations revealed that these explosions occurred due to human error during the transportation of some ammunition”, the source said. He added that the explosions caused material and human losses due the shrapnel which scattered outside the military position.

However, the governor of Homs, Talal Barazi, said that  “the sounds heard in Homs were caused by explosions in an ammunition depot as a result of an attack on the site. He stressed that the attack included a military site and its nature was not known yet, which led to explosions. Smoke columns emerged from the site, shells fell in its vicinity, and a number of passing civilians were wounded.”

Dr. Hassan Al Jundi, Homs Health Director, told SANA that “10 injuries had arrived in public and private hospitals in the city as a result of falling flying missiles from the explosion that occurred at a military site, and the necessary aid was provided to them.”

Step News Agency provided the names of that arrived at Homs Hospital with injuries from the explosion: Muhammad Ahmad Al-Ahmad – amputated right leg, Muhammad Ali Ibrahim – two limbs amputated, Muhammad Yusef Milhem – a right hand wound and a back wound, Muhammad Omar Hussein Askari – stable general situation.

Baladi News reported that a number of Hezbollah members were killed and injured as a result of the event. They said that nine militants including officers were killed.

The incident occured at approximately 9:25 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Muhammad Ahmad Al-Ahmad محمد أحمد الأحمد
Age unknown male Amputated right leg injured
Muhammad Ali Ibrahim محمد علي ابراهيم
Age unknown Two amputated limbs injured
Muhammad Yusef Milhem محمد يوسف ملحم
Age unknown Right hand and back injuries injured
Muhammad Omar Hussein Askari محمد عمر حسين عسكري
Age unknown Stable condition injured
Muhammad Ahmad Al Ahmad محمد أحمد الأحمد
Age unknown male Right leg amputated injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–10
  • Causes of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict, Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Suspected target
    Hezbollah
  • Belligerents reported killed
    9
  • Belligerents reported injured
    2

Sources (27) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (21) [ collapse]

  • Damage after alleged Israeli strikes on the road connecting Homs to Palmyra, Homs governorate, on May 1st, 2020 (via HNC Homs).
  • Damage after alleged Israeli strikes on the road connecting Homs to Palmyra, Homs governorate, on May 1st, 2020 (via HNC Homs).
  • Rubble on the street after alleged Israeli strikes on the road connecting Homs to Palmyra, Homs governorate, on May 1st, 2020 (via HNC Homs).
  • Damaged vehicle after alleged Israeli strikes on the road connecting Homs to Palmyra, Homs governorate, on May 1st, 2020 (via SANA).
  • Damaged vehicle after alleged Israeli strikes on the road connecting Homs to Palmyra, Homs governorate, on May 1st, 2020 (via SANA).
  • Aftermath of alleged Israeli strikes on the road connecting Homs to Palmyra, Homs governorate, on May 1st, 2020 (via SANA).
  • Image from a balcony alleging 2 injured in Al Khoudary street. after alleged Israeli strikes on the road connecting Homs to Palmyra, Homs governorate, on May 1st, 2020 (via HNC Homs).
  • Damage after alleged Israeli strikes on the road connecting Homs to Palmyra, Homs governorate, on May 1st, 2020 (via HNC Homs).
  • Explosions in Homs from alleged Israeli strikes on May 1, 2020. (Image posted by @HeshmatAlavi)
  • Explosions in Homs from alleged Israeli strikes on May 1, 2020. (Image posted by @HeshmatAlavi)
  • Explosions in Homs from alleged Israeli strikes on May 1, 2020. (Image posted by @HeshmatAlavi)
  • Explosions in Homs from alleged Israeli strikes on May 1, 2020. (Image posted by Nziv.net)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Hassan Bin Al Haitham (الحسن بن الهيثم) training camp, in the vicinity of the road connecting Homs (حمص) to Palmyra (تدمر). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for this camp are: 34.685734, 36.734848.

Israeli Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Military
  • Israeli Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–10
  • Causes of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict, Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Suspected target
    Hezbollah
  • Belligerents reported killed
    9
  • Belligerents reported injured
    2

Sources (27) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USYEM109-B

Incident date

June 20, 2012

Location

المحفد, Mahfed, Abyan, Yemen

Geolocation

14.059345, 46.915427 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On the 20th of June 2012, up to 30 militants were reported killed and six others injured in a series of Yemeni or US-waged airstrikes in Mahfed, Abyan, which was later reported by international and local media.

AP reported that Yemeni military officials said that “at least six air raids targeted moving vehicles and Al Qaeda positions in Mahfad, the last stronghold of Al Qaeda in Abyan province.” According to the Yemeni defence minister, five militants were killed, including senior military leaders of Ansar al-Sharia, linked to Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), as reported by BBC. However, BBC also quoted a local official reporting “30 deaths in the Al Qaeda ranks”. Other news outlets report that the number of dead was somewhere in between 5 and 30. CNN quoted an official saying that 17 militants had died and that 6 were injured. There is therefore no agreement on how many have been injured or killed as a result of these strikes. Even though it cannot be ruled out, there are no reports of civilians being injured or killed in these strikes.

According to the BBC these strikes were conducted by Yemeni aircraft. Al Jazeera also reports that Yaslam al-Anburi, who is the mayor of Mahfed (located in the Abyan governorate), told AFP that the Yemeni Air Force was responsible for the multiple strikes. According to the mayor, the strikes were concentrated “mainly in the Wadi Dhiman and Dayda Valleys”. In what appears to have been another strike, Al Jazeera reported that “a tribal chief said three suspected fighters were killed and four wounded in an air raid targeting a group of al-Qaeda fighters in a desert region between Abyan and Shabwa provinces.” While there were no direct allegations against the US military, its involvement cannot be ruled out due to its announced military support to the Yemeni government. In the aftermath of the strike, Yemeni security officials also reported that weapons caches were found at the locations of the strikes.

CNN reached out to a security official who explained the rationale for the strikes. He stated that “Hundreds of militants escaped unharmed when government forces retook Zinjibar and Jaar towns. The current operation is to hunt those terrorists down, and today a big number of them were killed”. He spoke on the basis of anonymity since he was not at liberty to discuss the strike with the media. Yahoo News also reported that the strike was part of several week-long offensive which was aimed at uprooting the militants which had gained a foothold in the Abyan and Shabwa governorate after the uprising in 2011.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attackers
    US Forces, Yemeni Air Force
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    5–30
  • Belligerents reported injured
    6

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Mahfed (المحفد), for which the generic coordinates are: 14.059345, 46.915427. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Yemeni Air Force Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Yemeni Air Force
  • Yemeni Air Force position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attackers
    US Forces, Yemeni Air Force
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    5–30
  • Belligerents reported injured
    6

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC403

Incident date

May 19, 2020

Location

بئر التوتة, Bi'r Altota, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.674722, 13.241944 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians were allegedly injured by GNA artillery shelling on Qasr Bin Gashir.

Alsaaa24 said: “Eyewitnesses reported that the heavy artillery shelling did not stop since the morning hours on the Bi’r Altota area and the Sharif Hotel in Qasr Bin Gashir by Syrian mercenaries and armed militias loyal to the ‘Government of Reconciliation’.

They added that the shelling had caused great casualties among civilians, after it affected residential neighborhoods and citizens’ farms, in a systematic destruction of their livelihoods.”

Tripoli 219 reported “two children, a father and a mother” injured.

Tk Yahroug Kl shy, however, said “a shell has landed on the house of Abd al-Salam al-Warfalli” but there were no casualties.

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Government of National Accord

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Building allegedly damaged by GNA shelling on Qasr Bin Gashir on May 19th, 2020 (via Tripoli 219)
  • Building allegedly damaged by GNA shelling on Qasr Bin Gashir on May 19th, 2020 (via Tripoli 219)
  • Building allegedly damaged by GNA shelling on Qasr Bin Gashir on May 19th, 2020 (via Tripoli 219)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Bi’r Altota (بئر التوتة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.674722, 13.241944. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Bi’r Altota (بئر التوتة).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Government of National Accord Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Government of National Accord
  • Government of National Accord position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Government of National Accord

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USYEMTr115-C

Incident date

November 11, 2017

Location

خبران, Khabran, Al Bayda, Yemen

Geolocation

14.514783937, 44.885372917 Note: The accuracy of this location is to District level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Multiple sources reported that a US drone strike in Qayfa, in Bayda governorate, killed one civilian and seriously injured another on the morning of November 11th 2017.  Some other sources suggested that at least one alleged ISIS militant was killed in the strike.

US Central Command later confirmed that a strike took place in Bayda governorate on that day, killing one alleged ISIS militant it said. Since there were no other known reports of a US strike on November 11th, this event is treated as declared.

According to local language news sites, including Al-Khabar Now and Yemen Shabab, the strike targeted a car, killing civilian Dares Ahmed bin Ahmed Jaraoun immediately and seriously injuring his brother, Saeed Ahmed bin Ahmed Jaraoun. These sources indicated that the targeted were the children of Ahmed bin Ahmed Jaraoun. The ages of the dead were unclear, although Al-Khabar Now described Ahmed as a “student”.

These sources suggested that the strike took place in the Al-Areen area of Qayfa Radaa, at around 10am.

An on-the-ground investigator told Reprieve that one adult civilian was killed and another injured, both sons of Ahmed bin Ahmed Jaraoun. Reprieve shared their findings on this strike with Airwars.

Some sources instead claimed that those killed in the strike were ISIS militants. One Twitter source, @demolinari, reported that a strike against a motorbike killed one “suspected ISIS militant” and injured another near Khabran village, Qayfa, while @new_24_7 claimed that two were killed.

Another outlet, @ANews_Arabic, said that according to a Yemeni government source, at least three militants were killed.

Airwars has assessed that a minimum of one civilian was reportedly killed in the strike, with another wounded.  Between one and three militants were reportedly killed, in addition to one reportedly wounded.

In its May 2018 annual civilian casualty report, the US Department of Defense stated that “there were credible reports of civilian casualties caused by U.S. military actions in Yemen against AQAP and ISIS during 2017”, but did not specify which specific actions these reports referred to.  Overall, the Department of Defense assessed that there were credible reports of “approximately 499 civilians killed and approximately 169 civilians injured during 2017”, as a result of US military actions in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, and Yemen.

Responding to Airwars’ publication of its Yemen dataset and accompanying report in October 2020, CENTCOM dismissed all but two civilian harm claims under President Trump, asserting that “USCENTCOM conducted a thorough review of the information AirWars provided regarding allegations of potential civilian harm caused by USCENTCOM strikes in Yemen from 2017-2020… The bulk of the information asserted by AirWars, however, did not correspond with dates and locations of U.S. military strikes or raids in Yemen.   Other AirWars allegations either did not allege civilian harm or were not assessed as credible upon our review.”

The incident occured at approximately 10:00 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Dares Ahmed bin Ahmed Jaraoun
Adult male Listed as a student - may be aged below 17 killed
Saeed Ahmed bin Ahmed Jaraoun
Adult male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    ISIS - Yemen
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1–3
  • Belligerents reported injured
    1

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the village of Khabran (خبران), allegedly located within the Al Areen (العرين) area, in the Al Quraishyah (القريشيه) district. Research shows a Wadi Al Arin (وادي العرين), located 25KM to the south-east of Khabran at 14.464648924, 45.103944956, however, we are unable to confirm whether this is the same area mentioned in the sources. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Khabran are: 14.514783937, 44.885372917.

  • Reports of the incident mention the village of Khabran (خبران), allegedly located within the Al Areen (العرين) area, in the Al Quraishyah (القريشيه) district. Research shows a Wadi Al Arin (وادي العرين), located 25KM to the south-east of Khabran, however, we are unable to confirm whether this is the same area mentioned in the sources.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

US Forces Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None

Civilian casualty statements

US Forces
  • Nov 5, 2020

  • Via email: U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) continues to focus on ways to minimize civilian casualties during its military operations. We assess or review all reports of civilian casualties because such assessments or reviews help us identify ways to improve our operations and counter misinformation and propaganda. We routinely share the results of every one of our assessments in Department of Defense (DoD) reports to Congress, including annual reports, many of which are publicly available. We also share the results of our assessments or reviews with the public via the USCENTCOM website and our statements to the media. Individuals wishing to understand U.S. military operations in Yemen more fully should consult these official sources of information. USCENTCOM conducted a thorough review of the information AirWars provided regarding allegations of potential civilian harm caused by USCENTCOM strikes in Yemen from 2017-2020. Of the information AirWars provided, one strike on September 14, 2017, was assessed to have caused injuries to two civilians. Also, as previously released by USCENTCOM to the public in February 2017, USCENTCOM acknowledged there may have been civilian casualties during a raid on January 29, 2017. The bulk of the information asserted by AirWars, however, did not correspond with dates and locations of U.S. military strikes or raids in Yemen. Other AirWars allegations either did not allege civilian harm or were not assessed as credible upon our review. Consistent with our mission, our authorities, and our obligations under the law of war, USCENTCOM will continue to conduct military actions in Yemen when required to protect the Nation and our allies and partners from al Qa’ida and ISIS terror cells that are committed to inflicting terror. In every strike and raid, we take careful measures to minimize civilian harm and take responsibility for our actions. When our military operations result in reports of civilian harm, we will continue to assess the credibility of such reports to help us identify ways to improve our operations and respond as appropriate.

Original strike reports

US Forces

We conducted three strikes against ISIS in al-Bayda Governorate, Yemen Nov. 10-12.
· 10 Nov – 1 strike – 2 EKIA
· 11 Nov – 1 strike – 1 EKIA
· 12 Nov – 1 strike – 2 EKIA

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    ISIS - Yemen
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1–3
  • Belligerents reported injured
    1

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC412

Incident date

June 2, 2020

Location

بادرتن, Baderten, Jabal al Gharbi, Libya

Geolocation

32.158102, 13.063774 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five men were killed in alleged LNA/UAE drone strikes on the city of Gheryan, Jabal Al Gharbi, on June 2nd, 2020, according to local sources.

Simfaro reported that aircraft was hovering over the city for several hours, conducting ten strikes in separate areas. @EbrahimGasuda initially reported the names of three victims as the result of UAE drone strikes, targeting the Meteorological and Seismological Center in Baderten neighbourhood.

The source later updated this to five victims. Reportedly, civilian males Abdul Basit Ali Al Basheer, Abdul Karim Al Sharqawi, Ashour Ahmed Belhadj, Rami Muhammad Abu Shaqour and Mahmoud Abdul Hamid Al Tajouri were killed in the strikes.

Amina Burgrara reported that ten strikes led to “three martyrs when the Meteorological and Seismological Center was bombed and two when the forces located near the Jendouba Bridge were bombed.”

Sidi Mousa Street reported that Rami Muhammad Abu Shaqour was one of the victims of the airstrikes on Jendouba bridge.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdul Basit Ali Al Basheer عبد الباسط على الباشير
Adult male killed
Abdul Karim Al Sharqawi عبد الكريم الشرقاوي
Age unknown male killed
Ashour Ahmed Belhadj ( عاشور أحمد بلحاج
Adult male killed
Rami Muhammad Abu Shaqour رامي محمد ابوشاقور
Adult male killed
Mahmoud Abdul Hamid Al Tajouri محمود عبدالحميد التاجوري
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (5 men)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Libyan National Army, United Arab Emirates Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • One of the victims of alleged LNA/UAE drone strikes on Gharyan on June 2nd, 2020 (via Amina Burgrara on Facebook).
  • One of the victims of alleged LNA/UAE drone strikes on Gharyan on June 2nd, 2020 (via Amina Burgrara on Facebook).
  • One of the victims of alleged LNA/UAE drone strikes on Gharyan on June 2nd, 2020 (via Khamis Al Kawasem on Facebook).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Baderten (بادرتن), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.158102, 13.063774. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Libyan National Army Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Libyan National Army
  • Libyan National Army position on incident
    Not yet assessed

United Arab Emirates Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    United Arab Emirates Military
  • United Arab Emirates Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (5 men)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Libyan National Army, United Arab Emirates Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USYEMTr222-C

Incident date

April 11, 2020

Location

منزل الشيخ علي بن حسن بن غريب, House of Sheik Ali bin Hassan bin Gharib, Marib, Yemen

Geolocation

15.501357, 45.364845 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to some sources, a US drone strike targeted alleged AQAP militants in the house of Ali Bin Hassan Bin Gharib, an Islah leader, in Shabwana, in Marib governorate in the early morning of April 11th 2020. However others suggested that a Houthi ballistic missile was responsible. While Bin Gharib was reportedly unharmed, some indicated that the strike resulted in civilian casualties, though no specific details were available.

Bin Gharib is reportedly an elder of the Obeida tribe in Marib, and local sources told Sahaftak that he was a prison official in the governorate. One source, @ahmedhashdy, alleged that he was also an AQAP leader.

Local sources told Al-Masdar Online, YPA Agency, and Sahaftak that the strike had resulted in civilian casualties, partly destroying the house and some neighbouring buildings. Given these reports, Airwars has assessed that at least two civilians were reportedly killed in the event.

Though the first known report of a strike in the area came at 3:42 AM on April 11th – from @AbduMahmoud19, reporting a Houthi ballistic missile strike – several sources, including Al-Masdar Online and Sahaftak, indicated that the strike against Bin Gharib’s house took place on the evening of that day.

Yemeni Information Minister Moammar Al-Eryani, tweeted condemnation of the strike on a “residential area in Marib”, which he attributed to “Iranian-backed Houthi militias”, while a Yemeni military social media feed also suggested that this event was one of two Houthi “ceasefire violations” in the area.

US Central Command told Airwars that no US military strikes were conducted in Yemen during April 2020. It is, however, possible that an undeclared strike was conducted by the CIA, or as part of a clandestine US military action.

The incident occured around dawn.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Artillery, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US Forces, Houthi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • The strike, which was variously alleged to be a US drone raid or Houthi missile attack, reportedly targeted the home of Sheikh Ali Bin Gharib (@tonytohcy, April 12th 2020)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a residential building within Ma’rib (مأرب). Conflicting sources claim the building to be located at several sites within a 100m area, for which the generic coordinates are: 15.501357, 45.364845. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • Reports of the incident mention a residential building within Ma’rib (مأرب). Conflicting sources claim the building to be located at several sites within a 100m area.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

US Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US Forces
Official source

According to CENTCOM, there were no US military strikes during April 2020 in Yemen.

Houthi Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Houthi Forces
  • Houthi Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Artillery, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US Forces, Houthi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USYEMTr174-C

Incident date

July 22, 2018

Location

الروضة, Al Rawda, Ma'rib, Yemen

Geolocation

15.448882, 45.345554 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least three alleged AQAP militants were reportedly killed, and another injured, by a US drone strike against a house in Al Rawda, Marib governorate, on the evening of July 22nd 2018. A few social media sources at the time suggested that the strike had instead killed civilians.

A later US Central Command statement indicated that a strike had taken place on July 22nd, but CENTCOM later told the Bureau of Investigative Journalism that this declared strike was in Hadramout governorate rather than Marib, with the Bureau noting that “US Central Command said it conducted strikes on July 22 and 24, both in Hadramout governorate, in response to a Bureau query on the monthly strike total.”

Two local language Twitter sources, @ALARSH_NEWS and @HHHE201001, reported that a US drone had targeted Internally Displaced Persons in Rawdat Thanah, killing three and resulting in “a number” of wounded. Another Twitter account, @Abbas_477, stated only that a US drone was “bombing citizens in Marib”.

Most, however, indicated that AQAP militants were killed in the alleged strike. Anatolia Agency reported that three militants were killed and one injured, when a US drone targeted a meeting taking place in a house, according to a security officer.

Others, including AP, AFP, and local language social-media sources, indicated that a strike had killed four militants. Tribal leaders told AP that four bodies, allegedly AQAP militants, were found after the attack. One source, @ShabbirTuri, suggested that ten had died, though this figure is potentially a misinterpretation of a confusing AFP headline.

In its annual civilian casualty report to Congress issued in April 2019, the US Department of Defense stated that it had assessed “no credible reports of civilian casualties resulting from US military actions in Yemen during 2018″.

Responding to Airwars’ publication of its Yemen dataset and accompanying report in October 2020, CENTCOM dismissed all but two civilian harm claims under President Trump, asserting that “USCENTCOM conducted a thorough review of the information AirWars provided regarding allegations of potential civilian harm caused by USCENTCOM strikes in Yemen from 2017-2020… The bulk of the information asserted by AirWars, however, did not correspond with dates and locations of U.S. military strikes or raids in Yemen.   Other AirWars allegations either did not allege civilian harm or were not assessed as credible upon our review.”

The incident occured in the evening.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    3–10
  • Belligerents reported injured
    1

Sources (29) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a house being struck in the Al Rawda (الروضة) area, south of Mar’ib (مأرب) city. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Al Rawda are: 15.448882, 45.345554.

  • Reports of the incident mention a house being struck in the Al Rawda (الروضة) area, south of Mar’ib (مأرب) city.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

US Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No reason given
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None

Civilian casualty statements

US Forces
  • Nov 5, 2020
  • Apr 29, 2019

  • C. U.S. military action in Yemen against al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and ISIS During 2018, U.S. forces deployed to Yemen continued to work towards disrupting and degrading the terrorist threat posed by AQAP and ISIS. U.S. forces conducted 36 airstrikes against AQAP and ISIS operatives and facilities in Yemen and supported United Arab Emirates and Yemen-led efforts to clear AQAP from Shabwah Governorate. DoD has no credible reports of civilian casualties resulting from U.S. military actions in Yemen during 2018.

  • Via email to Airwars: U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) continues to focus on ways to minimize civilian casualties during its military operations. We assess or review all reports of civilian casualties because such assessments or reviews help us identify ways to improve our operations and counter misinformation and propaganda. We routinely share the results of every one of our assessments in Department of Defense (DoD) reports to Congress, including annual reports, many of which are publicly available. We also share the results of our assessments or reviews with the public via the USCENTCOM website and our statements to the media. Individuals wishing to understand U.S. military operations in Yemen more fully should consult these official sources of information. USCENTCOM conducted a thorough review of the information AirWars provided regarding allegations of potential civilian harm caused by USCENTCOM strikes in Yemen from 2017-2020. Of the information AirWars provided, one strike on September 14, 2017, was assessed to have caused injuries to two civilians. Also, as previously released by USCENTCOM to the public in February 2017, USCENTCOM acknowledged there may have been civilian casualties during a raid on January 29, 2017. The bulk of the information asserted by AirWars, however, did not correspond with dates and locations of U.S. military strikes or raids in Yemen. Other AirWars allegations either did not allege civilian harm or were not assessed as credible upon our review. Consistent with our mission, our authorities, and our obligations under the law of war, USCENTCOM will continue to conduct military actions in Yemen when required to protect the Nation and our allies and partners from al Qa’ida and ISIS terror cells that are committed to inflicting terror. In every strike and raid, we take careful measures to minimize civilian harm and take responsibility for our actions. When our military operations result in reports of civilian harm, we will continue to assess the credibility of such reports to help us identify ways to improve our operations and respond as appropriate.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    3–10
  • Belligerents reported injured
    1

Sources (29) [ collapse]